RETURN OF THE DAWG: 2005 Huskies Look To Return To Winning Tradition The Washington football team entered the the large number of injuries that depleted the depth “But, in terms of who is No. 1 or No. 2 at a spring football practice season with a lot of chart last season. Four of the team’s five captains position, I think most of them know who has the questions. After all, with new head coach Tyrone were sidelined by the end of the season. edge, but in many cases, they didn’t close the Willingham and his staff getting their first on-field While that experience can only help, Willing- door,” he continues. “They didn’t slam down the look at the UW team, the evaluation of personnel ham is quick to emphasize that the past is the position so that they could walk away with no doubt and installation of a new system promised more past and that players must continue to fight for in their mind. Hopefully, this offseason will give than a few unknowns. playing time. them ample opportunity to work to get better.” Certainly, while plenty of questions remain “We gave a lot of young men an opportunity for coaches, players and fans alike, the Huskies in the spring,” Willingham says. “If you were OFFENSE Season Outlook head into the fall with a new determination and a dressed and practicing, you at some point had The Huskies return eight starters and 29 mission to return to the status to which Washington an opportunity, whether you were the No. 115 lettermen on offense. Washington struggled last football has become accustomed. player on the squad or the No. 1 player, to show year in two critical areas – scoring and turnovers. Willingham, the 2002 national coach of the what you can do. To us as a coaching staff, that’s The Huskies were last in the Pac-10 averaging year at Notre Dame, has given his new team a important — providing an opporunity to the play- just 14.0 points per game. The team was ninth relatively simple process for beginning to answer ers to demonstrate where they should be and in total offense, averaging 311 yards per outing. those questions, and it’s one he hopes will lead to how they rank.” The team had 42 turnovers, 12 more than the a quick turnaround from the 2004 Husky squad, Willingham has presented his players with next closest team in the league. which finished 1-10. a formula that is at the same time simple and “The number one thing we need to do is to get demanding. He and his assistant coaches have QUARTERBACKS back to“‘Husky Football’,” Willingham explains. made it clear what players must do to succeed Getting consistent play from the quarterback “I think we started to do that. What we tried in their system. position is a must for the Husky offense. Last year to emphasize was the discipline, the toughness “We’ve explained to them what will get them in the team completed only 40 percent of its pass and the tenacity that we need to become a good with us very clearly,” Willingham says. “We’ve told attempts and had 24 interceptions while recording football team. them, I am fond of young men that work hard, that just eight touchdown passes. Washington aver- “Number two, in order to become a good don’t make mistakes and play smart football. I am aged 190.8 passing yards per game, the lowest football team, we have to learn a new system,” fond of guys that go to class and do well in the total in 10 years. he continues. “In spring practice, we put guys classroom, that are good people. So, they know After giving three different players the op- in situations so that they could understand how where they stand with us in terms of the things portunity to run Washington’s offense in 2004, this system will work. From a mental standpoint, we’re asking of them. Willingham said he intends to decide on a single I think we made some progress. player to be the Huskies’ starting quarterback. “The next part is to start to identify some “My biggest concern is to see if we can playermakers — people we think we can count get not only our quarterbacks, but every posi- on,” Willingham concludes. tion, a fair and equal opportunity to see who “We started to find some of those and we is our best player. For me, I am comfortable started to find out where we don’t have them and and patient enough that if we don’t announce what we have to do to adjust.” that until September 3, I am okay,” Willingham Having established this process during his first says. “I prefer one quarterback. I think you spring workouts, Willingham has planted a seed he would want one leader, but at the same time, hopes will continue to grow through the summer if we can’t find one guy to do the job, then we and into the fall, when the Huskies return to the will do whatever it means is necessary for us field to prepare for the 2005 season. to be successful.” “What we still need to have answered is how In addition to the three returning players far we’ve come in all of those areas, because who contended for the job last spring – se- that determines our success on the field,” Will- nior Casey Paus, junior Isaiah Stanback and ingham says. “Have we really become a football sophomore Carl Bonnell – Oregon transfer team that is tough, that is tenacious, that never Johnny Durocher will join the team this spring gives up? Have we become that team that re- as a sophomore and is eligible to play this fall ally understands the system and can execute it after sitting out the 2004 campaign. under game conditions? And, do we have those Paus has the most experience of the return- playmakers in place?” ing veterans. He started eight of 11 games last Willingham will have an abundance of young year and has appeared in 17 games over the players to jumpstart the Washington’s rebuilding past two seasons. Paus threw for 1,476 yards process. A total of 62 lettermen and 19 starters last year. He completed 116 of 274 passes and return from last year’s team. There is consider- had 17 interceptions against five touchdown able depth at almost every position except for tosses. cornerback. It is unlikely there will be a repeat of Stanback, who was used primarily as a re- Return of the Dawgs 2004 Husky Football • 7 two-time letterwinner has started 15 times dur- Junior Sonny Shackelford led the team in ing 23 appearances over the past two years. He total receptions with 21. He averaged a hefty averaged 4.1 yards per carry on 172 attempts, 14.2 yards per catch. With 28 catches over the finishing the season with 702 yards and five past two seasons, he has the most experience scores. James had 133 yards against UCLA of any receiver on the team. and a season-best effort of 189 versus San Jose Another pair of wideouts should be back from State. James enters his junior season with 1,232 injuries that ended their sophomore seasons career rushing yards. prematurely. Corey Williams emerged as UW’s Junior Shelton Sampson had 51 carries for top receiving threat when he had five receptions 189 yards and a pair of scores. His best out- in back-to-back games against UCLA and Notre ing was 76 yards on 10 totes against UCLA. Dame early in the year before a broken wrist Sophomore Louis Rankin carried the ball just sidelined him. Quintin Daniels had eight catches nine times for 35 yards. Chris Singleton, who for 121 yards in six games before a sprained has been slowed most of the past two years knee forced him to the sidelines for the second due to a foot injury, should return healthy for half of the season. his senior campaign. Another returning letterwinner who strength- “Louis Rankin’s explosiveness and the way ens the position is sophomore Anthony Russo, he performed in the spring is very exciting,” who plays primarily in the slot. He had 11 catches Willingham notes. “Kenny James’ consistency and averaged 12.6 yards per catch in his first and performance, along with Shelton Sampson’s, year as a Husky. Sophomore Charles Smith is showed that they can do some things. They all also back after lettering last year and sophomore Kenny James showed themselves very well. They were probably Cody Ellis is expected to move to the position on our best group on the offensive side.” a full-time basis after having played both receiver James Sims had 59 carries and 212 yards as and cornerback last year. Season Outlook ceiver during the 2003 season, played in seven a fullback. Against Washington State, he carried games at quarterback last year. He completed 23 times for a career-best 85 yards. Mark Palaita TIGHT ENDS 33 of 68 passes for 389 yards. He had three also returns at fullback. Ty Eriks, who was used While the tight end position has a pair of touchdowns and three interceptions. He was fifth at defensive end in 2004, also returns to the po- returning veterans, it loses it most productive on the team with 66 rushing yards, including a sition. A pair of redshirt freshman, Johnie Kirton member to a position switch. Senior Joe Toledo pair of TD runs.